Should You Wear Compression Socks When You Fly?

But there’s still not enough research on the subject to impress some physicians, including Elliott Haut, M.D., an associate professor of surgery with Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. Haut says that he nonetheless wears them when he flies — “not because there’s a ton of evidence, but because I’m in the, ‘Well, it probably wouldn’t hurt’ category."

Zaleski agrees that unless someone has certain health issues, “there are no established risks to wearing compression socks as long as they're properly sized.” The socks should come with measurement of compression level in millimeters of mercury (mmHg), like blood pressure, she says, and the average person would wear a pair with 15-20 mmHg.

Travelers who shouldn’t wear compression socks include those with peripheral artery disease or diabetes, says Haut; be sure to check with your doctor if you’re unsure.

They can be harder to pull on than normal socks, so many people put them on before they board rather than struggle with them in their cramped airplane seats. Zaleski suggests wearers “roll the top all the way down, like you’re putting on hosiery, then put the foot in and roll them up.” Then you're good to take them off right after the flight, once you're mobile again.

More suggestions for avoiding blood clots while traveling:

• Wear loose-fitting clothing and adjustable shoes.
• Make use of cabin overheads to leave yourself plenty of leg room.
• Pass on the salty food, which can contribute to water retention.
• Move: Take a short walk every hour or so. Rotate ankles, point toes and flex calves while seated. Elevate feet whenever possible.
• Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. Drinking lots of fluids can serve as a natural “alarm clock” to ensure you get up every so often.
• Be cautious of sleep sedatives, which can result in sitting in one position for too long.